Cyber attacks on Australian businesses on the rise but experts not blaming state actors

It used to be a business needed a lock on its door and a CCTV camera to protect against criminals, now experts say they need to invest in security they cannot see. Key points: A number of Australian businesses have been the target of attacks in recent weeks Cyber experts think it is "unlikely" attacks are connected Increase globally of attacks on medical research and hospitals amid COVID-19 pandemic The humble keyboard has been used to wreak havoc on a handful of organisations recently and cyber experts are warning the number of victims will continue to rise. Tom Uren, a cyber expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said attacks using ransomware are happening more often and businesses needed to beef up their security. The Australian Cyber Security Centre has noted that "advanced persistent threat actors" have been actively targeting health sector organisations and medical research facilities and has urged the sector to beef up its security. "It is critical that health sector organisations ensure that their networks are protected from malicious cyber actors who may seek to disrupt essential services or compromise business-critical systems," the ACSC said in a statement.